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Why Mark Zuckerberg has local artists come paint on the walls of Facebook

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Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer and founder of Facebook Inc.,
David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images

For the head of one of the largest tech companies in the world, Mark Zuckerberg has an impressive commitment to building a culture of art in the Facebook offices.

He cares because he thinks that working in an office rich with art fosters creativity and inspires employees.

"I've always believed our offices should feel like a work in progress, just like our products and the community we're trying to build. When you step onto our campus, you should feel like you can shape the world around you," says Zuckerberg in a recent post on his own personal Facebook page.

Zuckerberg shares a dozen images of walls in the Facebook headquarters, painted and decorated with sculptures. Each picture includes the name of the artist and where he or she is based.

There is also an onsite print studio and workshop called the Facebook Analog Research Laboratory.

Employees are encouraged to visit the studio to get their own creative juices flowing.

The Analog Research Laboratory team wrote about the program back in May: "At Facebook, art and design go beyond just decoration. They are provocations, meditations, and messages with the aim of encouraging unexpected connections, creating a platform for often unheard voices, uplifting our collective consciousness, and ultimately inspiring innovation."

Also, the Facebook Analog Research Laboratory runs an artist-in-residence lab. Artists are invited to come to the corporate campus and create art for the office.

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